THREE children from an orphanage in Bolivia visited Stonyhurst to meet pupils of St Mary's Hall who have raised thousands of pounds to help provide them with education and a secure family life.

For many years, the Learning to Care Charity at St Mary's Hall has been raising money for the Bolivian Orphanage in Cochabamba run by Sister Josephine Purcell, a nun originally from Edinburgh.

This last academic year alone, pupils of the Ribble Valley school raised over £3,000 from raffles and the sale of Christmas Cards. This year they were able to give the money in person to Sister Josephine and three of the children from her orphanage.

The orphanage has no fixed income and relies totally upon donations. Sister Josephine told the assembled school: "In Bolivia education is a luxury.

"Families have to make the choice between food, family and education for their children. Our ideal at the orphanage is to support the children throughout their lives - rather like a family.

"We are living from God's providence. Your support has been enormous - you are helping us to help others."

The orphanage, currently looks after 27 children. It has a school attached which last year educated 80 children.

Learning to Care is a registered charity run by the pupils of Stonyhurst College and St Mary's Hall and overseen by a board of Trustees made up of staff, parents and friends.

Jonathan Hewat, marketing and admissions manager at the college, said: " The pupils run the Learning to Care scheme, and they chose where the money should go. Initial contact was made through one of the pupil's parents, who knows Sister Josephine."

The pupil executive committee encourages other pupils to organise and run a variety of fund-raising events.

Funds raised are donated on the decision of the pupil executive to needy and charitable causes.